Within our Strategic Plan Arts OutWest supports or partners on projects across the region as well as funding occasional projects through small grants.
Our support may be as the auspicing organisation on a funding application: usually for an unincorporated group, individual artists, local government entity, or others unable to directly apply for funding.
Sometimes we are invited to manage funds and other admin elements of a project or program – letting the creatives focus on what they do best.
We also formally partner on projects where our expertise is used. We might collaborate with artists or other organisations to apply for funding or run a project together.
We also support small projects in the region through microgrants.
All of these projects have arisen out of ongoing conversations and relationships built with the local partners. To start a conversation about how we might support your project idea contact our executive director Kylie Shead (kyshead@csu.edu.au or 02 6338 4657). See our auspicing policy for more details.
currently
From the Arts OutWest Cultural Fund
Auspiced by Arts OutWest
Auspiced by Arts OutWest
2026: Auspiced by Arts OutWest
2026: Auspiced by Arts OutWest
2026: Auspiced by Arts OutWest
updates
Listen to some recent releases by artists from the Central West, Outback & West Darling & surrounds, curated by your Regional Coordinator Sophie Jones.
The Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival returns from Tuesday 19 to Sunday 24 May 2026, marking its 11th year as a much‑loved celebration of storytelling, big ideas and lively conversation.
Arts OutWest is a supporting partner and on the planning committee.
DOMESTIC DREAMS is on show until Sunday 26 April WAYOUT Artspace in Kandos.
Auspiced by Arts OutWest.
This May, the wildly original Murder Horse: The Musical storms onto Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre stage as part of the Local Stages program, premiering in a strictly limited season from 7–9 May 2026.
Auspiced by Arts OutWest.
7 March to 26 April. WAYOUT Artspace, Kandos.
Group show of regional artists. Auspiced by Arts OutWest. Curated by Steven Cavanagh and Nicola Mason.
Peak Hill photographers Judi Unger and Bernadette Binnie will have a mini exhibit at The Carrington on Saturday night (21 Feb, 2026), curated by Arts Outwest especially for Dinner attendees.
Orange Civic Theatre is delighted to launch ‘Compareo’ – inviting adults with disabilities into the theatre to explore the performing arts through weekly classes. Meanwhile the Bathurst Compareo expands to an extra weekly class.
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November 2025.
Featuring 18 locations, artists, opening their studios just once a year.
Shani Nottingham’s first workshop as part of her COWRA CREATES project saw Cowra community members coming to the Nguluway Room between Cowra Regional Art Gallery and Cowra Library to create beside each other. Post cards galore were created in amongst much community cheer.
Devised by artist Shani Nottingham, COWRA CREATES gives people of any age and ability the opportunity to create an artwork. It is a celebration and recognition of the rich creativity that is in our community. Look out for materials around Cowra and join in.
The Indivisible is new paintings by Kandos artists Gabrielle Bates, Leo Cremonese and Georgina Pollard at Mudgee Arts Precinct (25 July to 21 September 2025). Public Forum Sat 30 August.
Arts OutWest is very pleased to be supporting the public forums attached to this important exhibition of Central West artists.
The Oberon NAIDOC Art Exhibition is on for a third year. Celebrating NAIDOC week 6 – 13 July 2025 Art Exhibition is being held at the Oberon Library and Community Centre. This exhibition opened on Saturday 5 July 2025.
Central West regional artist Sam Paine has been expressively painting Tommy the dog from Henry Lawson’s story The Loaded Dog. It looks like he’s in full pooch swing with the bomb cartridge in his mouth.
The community-ran Parkes School of Dance are training the next generation of dance teachers through the DanceStep program.
In a project by Parkes Shire Council in the Marramarra Makerspace, textile artist Pippita Bennett led participants to create their own canvas mounted stitched miniature landscapes using naturally dyed and thrifted fabric.
past projects
Auspiced 2026: New Australian musical
2023-2024: Audience development support
Supported 2024: Forum and showcase
Supported 2024: Wellbeing and music
Supported 2024: ARI gathering
Small recovery grants
2023: Schools history and storytelling
Supported 2022-24: new theatre
Supported 2022: creative and professional development
Supported 2021, 2024: theatre production
Supported 21-22: multi-arts response to bushfire recovery
2021-23: State-wide, multi arts project,
Small grants
Supported 2021: new play premiere
Supported: gallery and community hub
Supported 2021-22: Condobolin’s SkyFest
2021: regional boost
Supported 2020: exhibition and arts activities
Supported: Geolocative storytelling app
Supported 2019: Multi-arts mental health stories
Supported 2019: A touring schools theatre program.
Supported 2019: Play script development
Prose and poetry responding to the big sky
Multi-layed community arts project
Supported 2016-17: short film
2017: Kids making history films
Supported 2014: dance and physical theatre